After re-watching the Iowa game on Saturday I was able to come up with several positives shown by the Gophers, but there was no doubt a fair share of negatives as well. The loss of course drops Minnesota to 3-2 overall and 0-2 in the Big Ten. This week's game against Maryland is most likely a must win game to stay somewhat relevant in the conference this season.
Positives:
-The defense really did play a nice game overall. The return of Kiante Hardin and Ray Buford really provided a ton of positives for this team. Hardin was one on one down the field with Iowa wideout Germanic Smith in the first half and was able to make a terrific play to tip the pass to himself for the interception and returned it 31 yards the other way. Big time play by the sophomore.
-Steven Richardson was his dominant self once again. He is so quick off the ball and his leverage allows him to explode into the backfield to cause havoc. On Iowa's first possession he shot off the ball on a 2nd down and long play and was able to hit LeShun Daniels in the backfield for a loss. He could definitely be on his way to All-Big Ten honors this fall if he keeps up his strong play.
-True freshman linebacker Kamal Martin showed his athleticism with a drive stopping interception in the 4th quarter when Iowa QB C.J. Beathard tried to hit his running back out of the backfield on a crucial third down. Martin turned his head to locate the ball and made a leaping grab to gain possession back for the maroon and gold.
-Jonathon Celestin had perhaps his best game as a Gopher Saturday. He had 13 total tackles and a pass breakup on the afternoon. He also ran down the Iowa running back in the first quarter and tripped him up at the nine yard line when there was nothing but green in front of him. This play saved a sure touchdown and Iowa settled for a field goal.
-Shannon Brooks ran extremely hard once again. Only 10 carries on the game for the stud sophomore back, which went for 55 yards and a touchdown. Completely puzzling why he didn't get more carries in this game as he was having significant success. He needs at least 20 carries against Maryland this weekend, especially without Leidner at quarterback.
-Backup Left Tackle and Junior College transfer Donnell Greene saw his first extensive action of the season after Jonah Pirsig went down with an injury, and I thought he played pretty well. He allowed one quarterback hurry but other than that he is a big dude who can certainly be a factor pass blocking.
-Pass defense overall was significantly improved with Hardin and Buford back and playing together in the nickel and Winfield and Travis at safety. Ayinde did not see the field this week as Jacob Huff took his minutes at Strong Safety. Also two interceptions on the day doubled the number they had for the first four games.
-Myrick, Travis, and Buford each made excellent plays and adjustments to break up passes against the Iowa receiving core. Buford certainly has a bright future as he is only a redshirt freshman.
-Winston DeLattiboudere earned his first collegiate sack in the third quarter. He had a nice speed rush along the edge on third down and he was able to bring down Beathard as he tried to spin away. His performance has earned him his first career start next weekend against Maryland, his hometown team.
-Thomas Barber got some nice playing time Saturday and has moved up the depth chart to 2nd string linebacker. This 2016 class continues to impress and show they have a bright future. Barber also stripped Jim Thorpe Award winner Desmond King on a 2nd half kick return but the ball took a couple weird hops and landed safely out of bounds. Had Minnesota recovered they would have had the ball at the Iowa 28.
Negatives:
-268 total yards is just not going to get the job done. Iowa has really struggled against the run this year and yet Minnesota came out and threw 33 times (13 completions) and ran for a season low 102 yards. With backs like Smith and Brooks and a respectable offensive line, that just can not happen.
-Mitch Leidner played his worst game of the year. It's understandable to not have a good game once in awhile, but he just couldn't seem to get it right. Minnesota had every chance in the world to keep drives going and win the game, but the red-shirt senior couldn't get it done. Twice in the fourth quarter Leidner had Wolitarsky wide open on the same in and out route for a first down, and twice Leidner threw passes that Wolitarsky couldn't even get a hand on. Throws like these and keeping drives alive are the difference between winning and losing close games, and Mitch missed them on third downs and the offense was forced to punt.
-Penalties continued to be a back breaker for the Minnesota offense. They had eight penalties for 58 yards, including several illegal procedure penalties that sent them back and extra five yards and severely hampered play calling the rest of the drive. 2nd and 10 to 2nd and 15, 2nd and 12 to 2nd and 17. The Gophers are 13th in the Big Ten in penalty yardage per game at 72.2 yards. That comes down to discipline, and that is something that this team lacks at times.
-Dropped passes were an issue. Especially when Leidner is struggling, the receivers needed to help him out. Brian Smith drops a hitch on the first drive of the game, Rashad still drops a hitch on a crucial drive in the fourth quarter. That's the difference between 2nd and four or five and having the whole playbook open to 2nd and 10 (or 15 with a false start) and the offense being limited from there. It's when the little things are executed that makes the difference in winning and losing in close games like this one.
-Injuries to Mitch Leidner and Jonah Pirsig leave Minnesota without two of their best players in a critical road game at Maryland this weekend. Pirsig could be out several weeks after spraining an ankle. Ankle/Foot injuries and big guys like him can really be trouble. Hopefully he is back by November.
-It's hard to blame the defense for anything really on Saturday as they were just on the field so long (34:55), but on the big touchdown run in the fourth quarter by Akrum Wadley, linebacker Jack Lynn was unblocked and had a chance to bring him down after a three or four yard gain but fanned on him and the Iowa back was off to the races.
Overall/Going Forward:
-Minnesota could just as easily be 5-0, but instead they are 3-2 with two heartbreaking losses to opponents that were very beatable.
-The next four games for the Gophers are extremely winnable with road games at Maryland and Illinois and home games against Rutgers and Purdue. If the Gophers can go 4-0 they will have a chance going into the last three games against Nebraska, Northwestern, and Wisconsin to be playing for everything that they could hope for at the end of the season. The margin for error after these two losses to open Big Ten play becomes extremely thin now.
-Finding a way to build off of this defensive performance against Iowa will be a major key for Minnesota. They are mostly healthy on that side of the ball now, they just need to continue to find the right pieces and put together consistent efforts from here on out.
-Will the Gophers go back to their bread and butter (the run game)? Brooks and Smith were fantastic against Penn State. Brooks has the potential to be a 100 yard rusher every game, and I would be surprised if he doesn't get at least 15-17 carries a game for the rest of the season.
-Lingen is back next week and Still returned last week, so all the playmakers for the Gophers are healthy and ready to go. Lingen returning could be huge, especially on third downs and in the red zone.
-More discipline and finishing games, they both go hand and hand. With fewer pre-snap penalties and better execution late, Minnesota will have the opportunity to somewhat right the ship in these next few weeks in four winnable games before traveling to Nebraska in early November.
-Will the losing skid end next week? Redshirt-Junior Minnesota native Conor Rhoda will have to be the guy to lead the Gophers with Mitch Leidner going through concussion protocol.
Positives:
-The defense really did play a nice game overall. The return of Kiante Hardin and Ray Buford really provided a ton of positives for this team. Hardin was one on one down the field with Iowa wideout Germanic Smith in the first half and was able to make a terrific play to tip the pass to himself for the interception and returned it 31 yards the other way. Big time play by the sophomore.
-Steven Richardson was his dominant self once again. He is so quick off the ball and his leverage allows him to explode into the backfield to cause havoc. On Iowa's first possession he shot off the ball on a 2nd down and long play and was able to hit LeShun Daniels in the backfield for a loss. He could definitely be on his way to All-Big Ten honors this fall if he keeps up his strong play.
-True freshman linebacker Kamal Martin showed his athleticism with a drive stopping interception in the 4th quarter when Iowa QB C.J. Beathard tried to hit his running back out of the backfield on a crucial third down. Martin turned his head to locate the ball and made a leaping grab to gain possession back for the maroon and gold.
-Jonathon Celestin had perhaps his best game as a Gopher Saturday. He had 13 total tackles and a pass breakup on the afternoon. He also ran down the Iowa running back in the first quarter and tripped him up at the nine yard line when there was nothing but green in front of him. This play saved a sure touchdown and Iowa settled for a field goal.
-Shannon Brooks ran extremely hard once again. Only 10 carries on the game for the stud sophomore back, which went for 55 yards and a touchdown. Completely puzzling why he didn't get more carries in this game as he was having significant success. He needs at least 20 carries against Maryland this weekend, especially without Leidner at quarterback.
-Backup Left Tackle and Junior College transfer Donnell Greene saw his first extensive action of the season after Jonah Pirsig went down with an injury, and I thought he played pretty well. He allowed one quarterback hurry but other than that he is a big dude who can certainly be a factor pass blocking.
-Pass defense overall was significantly improved with Hardin and Buford back and playing together in the nickel and Winfield and Travis at safety. Ayinde did not see the field this week as Jacob Huff took his minutes at Strong Safety. Also two interceptions on the day doubled the number they had for the first four games.
-Myrick, Travis, and Buford each made excellent plays and adjustments to break up passes against the Iowa receiving core. Buford certainly has a bright future as he is only a redshirt freshman.
-Winston DeLattiboudere earned his first collegiate sack in the third quarter. He had a nice speed rush along the edge on third down and he was able to bring down Beathard as he tried to spin away. His performance has earned him his first career start next weekend against Maryland, his hometown team.
-Thomas Barber got some nice playing time Saturday and has moved up the depth chart to 2nd string linebacker. This 2016 class continues to impress and show they have a bright future. Barber also stripped Jim Thorpe Award winner Desmond King on a 2nd half kick return but the ball took a couple weird hops and landed safely out of bounds. Had Minnesota recovered they would have had the ball at the Iowa 28.
Negatives:
-268 total yards is just not going to get the job done. Iowa has really struggled against the run this year and yet Minnesota came out and threw 33 times (13 completions) and ran for a season low 102 yards. With backs like Smith and Brooks and a respectable offensive line, that just can not happen.
-Mitch Leidner played his worst game of the year. It's understandable to not have a good game once in awhile, but he just couldn't seem to get it right. Minnesota had every chance in the world to keep drives going and win the game, but the red-shirt senior couldn't get it done. Twice in the fourth quarter Leidner had Wolitarsky wide open on the same in and out route for a first down, and twice Leidner threw passes that Wolitarsky couldn't even get a hand on. Throws like these and keeping drives alive are the difference between winning and losing close games, and Mitch missed them on third downs and the offense was forced to punt.
-Penalties continued to be a back breaker for the Minnesota offense. They had eight penalties for 58 yards, including several illegal procedure penalties that sent them back and extra five yards and severely hampered play calling the rest of the drive. 2nd and 10 to 2nd and 15, 2nd and 12 to 2nd and 17. The Gophers are 13th in the Big Ten in penalty yardage per game at 72.2 yards. That comes down to discipline, and that is something that this team lacks at times.
-Dropped passes were an issue. Especially when Leidner is struggling, the receivers needed to help him out. Brian Smith drops a hitch on the first drive of the game, Rashad still drops a hitch on a crucial drive in the fourth quarter. That's the difference between 2nd and four or five and having the whole playbook open to 2nd and 10 (or 15 with a false start) and the offense being limited from there. It's when the little things are executed that makes the difference in winning and losing in close games like this one.
-Injuries to Mitch Leidner and Jonah Pirsig leave Minnesota without two of their best players in a critical road game at Maryland this weekend. Pirsig could be out several weeks after spraining an ankle. Ankle/Foot injuries and big guys like him can really be trouble. Hopefully he is back by November.
-It's hard to blame the defense for anything really on Saturday as they were just on the field so long (34:55), but on the big touchdown run in the fourth quarter by Akrum Wadley, linebacker Jack Lynn was unblocked and had a chance to bring him down after a three or four yard gain but fanned on him and the Iowa back was off to the races.
Overall/Going Forward:
-Minnesota could just as easily be 5-0, but instead they are 3-2 with two heartbreaking losses to opponents that were very beatable.
-The next four games for the Gophers are extremely winnable with road games at Maryland and Illinois and home games against Rutgers and Purdue. If the Gophers can go 4-0 they will have a chance going into the last three games against Nebraska, Northwestern, and Wisconsin to be playing for everything that they could hope for at the end of the season. The margin for error after these two losses to open Big Ten play becomes extremely thin now.
-Finding a way to build off of this defensive performance against Iowa will be a major key for Minnesota. They are mostly healthy on that side of the ball now, they just need to continue to find the right pieces and put together consistent efforts from here on out.
-Will the Gophers go back to their bread and butter (the run game)? Brooks and Smith were fantastic against Penn State. Brooks has the potential to be a 100 yard rusher every game, and I would be surprised if he doesn't get at least 15-17 carries a game for the rest of the season.
-Lingen is back next week and Still returned last week, so all the playmakers for the Gophers are healthy and ready to go. Lingen returning could be huge, especially on third downs and in the red zone.
-More discipline and finishing games, they both go hand and hand. With fewer pre-snap penalties and better execution late, Minnesota will have the opportunity to somewhat right the ship in these next few weeks in four winnable games before traveling to Nebraska in early November.
-Will the losing skid end next week? Redshirt-Junior Minnesota native Conor Rhoda will have to be the guy to lead the Gophers with Mitch Leidner going through concussion protocol.
